Honor Code?
The “Mandalorian” streaming show has engaged the Star Wars fan base. The storyline is well written, the videography is cutting edge, and the characters are captivating. I will be the first to admit I’ve consumed every episode! Early on in the series, you learn that the Mandalorian live by a code that shapes how they live, what they wear, and what they fight for.
This concept is admirable and even one that is seen elsewhere in society. Many schools have a written honor code. This document or statement is reinforced in work submitted, social interactions, and helps to strengthen the desired culture within the school. Like the code of the fictional sci-fi culture, this is admirable. Certainly, an honor code is beneficial.
The breakdown comes when we transfer that mindset to Scripture and specifically to the Commandments of God. When we look at the “Big Ten” in Exodus 20, it would be easy to simply identify a code for morality in society and build a framework for Judeo-Christian ethics. This has been done many times and is admirable. Certainly, it is good to use these commands as a framework for social conduct. We would all agree that we should be truthful, value faithfulness, honor others, and refrain from taking what is not ours.
We miss the heart of the matter when we simply look at these commandments as the code of conduct for society. These commandments are given to help us see the character of God and to be reminded that we are all made in His image and designed for relationship. It helps us to see that a command is not simply part of a code but actually exists to remind us of God’s nature.
For example, we should not lie because truth is valuable. Truth is valuable because John 14:6 teaches that Jesus is truth. God has to prohibit lying; otherwise, He contradicts His nature, and furthermore, we contradict the image in which we are made. Our ultimate challenge is to be conformed into His image (Romans 8:29) and to reflect His image to the world as image bearers (Matthew 5:14-16).
May we pay close attention to the “code” of the commandments, but may we strive to honor the God of those commandments as we love Him and love our neighbor well.
